Cap for building columns



Dec. 9, 1930. I G DEAN 1,784,091

CAP FOR BUILDING COLUMNS Filed June 29v 1929 1 mum I ay' Patented Dec. 9, 1 930 UNITED STATES GEORGE E. DEAN, OF NOB-WOOD,BK ODE ISLAND car non BUILDING. co'LUMns Application filed June 29, was. wa 374,885.

My invention relates to caps for building columns. The columns are usually steel tubes containing a concrete reinforcing filling.

The essential objects of my invention are I to combine in a cap a maximum of strength with a minimum of weight, and to facilitate the construction as well as lessen the cost thereof. A further object is to prevent slippage of the cap upon the frame when the attaching bolts are fractured or weakened.

To the above ends essentially my invention consists in such parts and in such combinations of parts as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification,

Figures 1 and 2 are a top plan view and an inverted plan view respectively of a cap embodying my invention,

Figure 3, a section of my cap applied to a column taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1, the showing of the column being fragmentary in character, and

Figure 4, a view corresponding with that of Figure 3 of a modified form of my invention.

Like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the views.

My ca includes a rectangular crown piece 8 of stee provided in its corner margins with the usual holes 9 for the accommodation of the bolts which engage the crown piece with the usual wooden or steel beam against the lower face of which the top face of the crown piece abuts.

The cap piece is centrally provided with an annular series of circular openings, in this instance four in number and arranged in pairs, the two pairs being severally indicated by the numerals 1212 and 1313 respectively. The material of the plate at the top of each opening is cut away to form an annular recess or diametrical enlargement 14, which forms with the remainder of the opening a resultant annular shoulder 15 which, in this instance, is inclined or beveled.

Column centering and retaining members 17 are formed b bending tools from rods or cylindrical blanks of soft steel, iron, or other strong bendable metal. The central portion of a rod or blank of required length is bent into arcuateform producinga segment 18 disposed in ahorizontal plane. The ends of theblank are upturned at right angles to the plane of the segment to constitute vertical 55.

of the heads assist in maintaining the segment v 18 in tight engagement at all points with the lower face of the crown piece 8. Upon the upper faces :of theheads are vertical prongs 23 formed preferably by a suitably shaped upsetting tool contemporaneously with the formation of the heads 20. The posts of one. of the retaining members 17 register in the openings 12, while the posts of the second member register in the openings 13. Although only two retaining members are herein shown it will be understood that this number is not exclusive.

The prongs 23 are adapted, when the cap is mounted, to penetrate the wooden beam resting upon the crown piece, and prevent so slippage of the latter in case one or more of the attaching bolts in the holes 9 be broken or weakened.

In Figure 4 is shown a modified form of my cap, more particularly adapted to use in connection with metal beams. This cap cliffers merely in omitting from the heads 20 the prongs 23. It will be understood that while the modified form of my invention shown in Figure 4 possesses some of the advantages of my invention disclosed in Figure 3, It does not possess all.

In utilizing my cap it is set upon the upper end of a column 27 comprisin a steel tube 28 and a concrete filling 29. T e segments 18 embrace the upper portion of the tube. The floor beam rests upon the crown piece or cap plate and is bolted thereto through the bolt holes 9, the prongs 23 penetrating the beam.

It will be noted that the retaining mem- 1 hers 17 are inexpensively formed and simply applied to the crown or cap plate, and require a less amount of material than the usual ring construction. The expense of welding the numerous rivets required in the latter construction is also avoided, and the transversely rounded form of the segments 18 facilitates the assemblage of; the column with the latter and with the plate.

I claim 1. A column cap comprising a crown plate adapted to rest upon a column provided with a plurality of annularly disposed openings and with annular recesses in the upper ends of the openings, and retaining members including horizontally disposed segments abutting against the bottom of the plate adapted to engage the column, posts upon the ends or the platesregistering in the openings, and heads. upon the posts seated in the recesses.

2. A column cap comprising a crown plate adapted to rest upon av column and provided with a plurality of openings, andretaining members including segments. abutting against the'bottom of the plate, posts upon the segments in the. openings, heads. upon the upper ends oftheposts, and vertical prongs upon the heads extending above the top of the plate.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature. p

' GEORGE H. DEAN. 

